Busy lifestyles can lead to poor food choices, causing you to miss out on essential vitamins and minerals. For those coming up short on nutrients, a safe alternative exists in the form of over-the-counter multivitamins. For diabetics, these supplements contain vitamins and minerals needed to maintain your health. When choosing a multivitamin, it is important to make sure that the supplement contains the following vitamins and minerals.

Vitamin D

Seniors with diabetes are more prone to osteoporosis because they have a lower bone density. However, using vitamin D supplements may reduce the effect of diabetes on your bone health. With vitamin D, multivitamins for diabetics can help prevent this deteriorating disease. Consuming vitamin D may also support heart health by unclogging your arteries.

Vitamin E

Diabetics often live with a deficiency in vitamin E, which makes them more likely to suffer from blindness. However, a multivitamin containing vitamin E can help prevent this from by promoting eye health. High blood glucose levels can damage blood vessels near the retina. Over time, this damage can cause degeneration of the eye. Studies suggest that vitamin E, along with Beta carotene, vitamin C, and zinc can slow down this condition by protecting the cells near the eyes.

Chromium

Most multivitamins possess a powerful mineral known as chromium. This nutrient helps use insulin more efficiently, resulting in lower blood sugar levels. In addition to improving insulin use, chromium helps build muscle. This makes it easier for you to achieve your optimum weight. Adding a multivitamin with chromium is especially important for seniors because they move around less, causing them to lose muscle tone and gain weight.

Potassium

People with diabetes are at a greater risk for hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Fortunately, potassium, in combination with limited sodium intake, can lower your blood pressure. A healthier blood pressure also means you're less likely to suffer from a heart attack or stroke.

Magnesium

In order for your body to produce and secrete insulin, magnesium must be present. Having enough magnesium combats insulin resistance and high glucose levels. Magnesium not only helps create insulin, it preserves nerve-related functions. Nerve damage, or diabetic neuropathy, is common among diabetics. This condition can lead to pain, tingling, and numbness in your hands, arms, feet, and legs, causing sores to go unseen. By improving nerve function, magnesium can play an active role in preventing diabetic neuropathy from occurring.

Many local grocery and health food stores offer over-the-counter multivitamins. For diabetics and, these supplements should be selected based on age and sex. This is because people require different amounts of vitamins and minerals. When looking for multivitamins for diabetics, make sure they contain a 100% daily value of every nutrient.

Ultimately, healthy eating is the best way to receive essential nutrients. Consult your physician before beginning a multivitamin regimen, as consuming excessive amounts of vitamins and minerals can have the inverse effect of negatively affecting your diabetes.